Refrigerating apparatus



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REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 1e, 192e grwenfo@ x MAA wrf Y v '/l,Grammy Patented @et 20, 123i were sra.- enr' rie RALPH H. CHILTON, 0FDAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION,A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application ledNovember 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,105.

This invention relates to cooling unitsfor mechanical refrigerators, andmore particularly to cooling units which are adapted to-` be installedin refrigerating cabinets of the household type. However, it isto beunderstood that the present invention may be adapted for largerrefrigerating cabinets of the commercial type. y

The present invention includes among its objects the provision of acoolingunit of simple and economicalconstruction which will quicklycongeal or freeze substances which are placed within a freezingcompartment provided by the unit, and which will eRectively cool thefood compartment of the cab-v inet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,`wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet with the doors open inorder to show the food compartment and a cooling unit within a coolingcompartment;

Fig. 2 is a view on a larger scale than Fig. 1, showing the front viewof the cooling unit which is suspended within the cooling compartment ofa cabinet, the walls of which are shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cooling unit drawn to the same scaleas Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the cooling unit.

VReierring to the drawings, 2O designates a refrigerator cabinet whichprovides an L- shaped food compartment 21 separated from a coolingcompartment 22 by a horizontal partition 23 and a vertical partition 24.The partition 24 is provided with a flue 25, ad-

mitting relatively warm air from the food y compartment 21 to thecooling compartment 22; and the partition 23 is provided with a iiue 26,admitting cooled air from the compartment 22 to the compartment 2 1. Thepartition 23 supports a ba'iie 27 which prevents moisture, dripping fromthe cooling unit above, from entering the iiue 26.' The baiiie 27directs such moisture upon the upper surface of the partition 23, andthis moisture is conducted away through a drain pipe 28.

The cooling unit located with-in the cooling compartment 22, includes aboiler or header 30 attached to the top wall of the cabinet by bracketmembers 31 and 32. Condensed refrigerant is conducted to the header 30from partment having a removable front wall 37 provided with louvers 38.

Below the header 30 are Vlocated one or more metal sleeves 40 of goodthermal conductivity having walls for enclosing substances to be frozenor congealed which may be placed in metal trays 41 insertable within thesleeves. The sleeves 4()l are superposed preferably below the header 30.A plurality of metal ducts 42 of good thermal conductivity are connectedat their upper ends with the header and are closed at their lower ends.These ducts are arranged preferably in two opposed horizontal rows, onerow on each side of the sleeves 40. Each duct includes vertical portions43 alternating with loops 44. The vertical portions 43 are in thermalContact with the sleeves 44 and are attached thereto to provide what maybe termed a freezing zone between them for quickly treez ing orcongealing a substance, and the loops 44 are spaced from the sleeves andare adapted to be subjected to the air which circulates through thecooling chamber 22 and therefore provide what may be termed a coolingzone for the circulating air or medium.

Since. the sleeves 40 are somewhat isolated from air'currcnts by' theheader 30 located above them and nested within the cooling i zone, theheader and portions shield thefreez- `the ducts than about the loopportions 44.

The loops 44 being entirely subjected to warmer air circulating throughthe cooling chamber, the accumulation of frost upon these coils will berelatively slow7 permitting them to properly cool the circulating air.During the idle periods of the refrigerating machine defrosting of theloops 44 may take place, but some frost will remain upon the ductportionsl 43 and sleeves 40 to maintain them at the desired lowtemperature during the idle period. I

The present invention provides for freezing substances and for coolingthe circulating air of the refrigerator cabinet by means of ducts havingthe minimum number of connections with the head. When separate ducts areemployed for cooling the air and for quick-freezing, at least two rowsof connections upon each side of the header have been required. Sinceeach duct of the present invention has thermal transfer portions forquick-freezing alternating with thermal transfer portions in the aircurrents, only one row of connections on each side of the header isrequired.

While the forms of embodiment of the prescnt invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

'What is claimed is as follows:-

1. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising, a header,supporting means adapted to carry an ice tray, and a plurality of metalducts of good thermal conductivity attached to the header, each having Aa plurality of portions thermally connected with said supporting means,said portionsaltr-:mating with a plurality of other portions of the sameduct, said latter portions lying outwardly from said supporting meansand adapted to be subjected to air circulating adjacent the unit.

2. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprlsing, an elongated,horizontal header, supporting means adapted to carry an icc trav andlocated below the header, and a plurality of ducts depending from theheader on both sides of the supporting means, each duct having aplurality of portions thermally connected with said supporting means,said portions alternating with a plurality of other portions of the sameduct, said latter' portions lying outwardly from said supporting meansand adapted to be subjected to air circulating adjacent the unit.

'3. A cooling unit according to claim 2 in which each duct has verticalportions thermally connected with the supporting means alternating withloops spaced from the means and adapted to be subjected to aircirculating adjacent the unit.

4. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path'of the circulatingmedium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising opposedconduit means, each having a plurality of portions extending inwardlyand cooperating with like portions of the opposed conduit to provide afreezing zone and each conduit including a plurality of outwardlyextending portions adapted to extend in the path of the circulatingmedium to provide a cooling zone.

5. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of the circulatingmedium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising opposedconduit means, one of said conduit means having a plurality of portionsextending inwardly, said inwardly extending portions cooperating withone another to,v provide one side of a freezing zone, another of theopposed conduit means providing another side of said freezing zone, saidfirst conduit means having a plurality of outwardly extending portionsadapted to extend in the path of the circulating medium to provide acooling zone.

6. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of the circulatingmedium 'to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising opposedconduit means, one of said conduit means having outwardly and inwardlybent portions, the inwardly bent portion cooperating with one another toprovide one side" of a freezing zone, another of the opposed conduitmeans providing another side of said freezing zone and the outwardlybent portion adapted to extend in the path of the circulating medium toprovide a cooling zone.

7. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to becooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising opposed conduit means, oneof said conduit means having a plurality of portions cooperating withone another to provide one side of a freezing zone, another of theopposed conduit means providing another side of said freezing zone andhaving alternating loops lying outwardly and adapted to extend in thepath of the circulating medium.

8. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising opposed ducts,one of said ducts having spaced-apart upright portions and aninterconnecting loop.

9. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising opposedducts', one of said ducts having spaced-apart upright portions and aninterconnecting and outwardly extending loop portion.

lO A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising opposed ducts,one of Lesmo? said ducts having spaced-apart loop portions and aninter-connecting inwardly extending upright portion.

11. A cooling unit'l for mechanical refrlgerators comprising a pluralityof aligned ducts each having an upright portion and a loop, the 'uprightportion of one duct being Y connected in series circuitl relation withthe loop of the same duct.

12. A cooling unit for mechanical rfrigerators comprising a headeradapted to contain liquid refrigerant, a plurality of opposed ductsconnected with the header in parallel circuit relation along theheader,A certain of said ducts having spaced-apart upright portions andinter-connecting loop.

13. A cooling unit adapted to be placed in the path of a circulatingmedium to be cooled and having a zone for an ice tray, said cooling unitincluding conduit means having an outwardly and an inwardly extendingportion connected in `series circuit relation, the inwardly extendingportion providing a part ofla vertically extending side of said zone andthe outwardly extending portion being dis# posed youtwardly of the sameside of said zone in more intimate thermal relation with the medium tobe cooled.

In testimony whereof I hereto a'lx my signature. y

. RALPH H. CHILTON.

